Holistic Mental Health Intervention: Charting Pathways to Wellness - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Holistic Mental Health Intervention: Charting Pathways to Wellness for Vulnerable Hoosier Youth

JASMINE GRAHAM, PH.D. IU SCHOOL OF EDUCATION - IUPUI

Agenda

• Assessment
• Intersectional Considerations
• Holistic Coping
• Helper/Healer Relationship
• Systemic Intervention
• Family Survivors of Suicide

JASMINE GRAHAM, PHD. IU SCHOOL OF EDUCATION-IUPUI

Assessment

In general, assessment seeks to determine:

• Level of suicidal intent
• Plans
• Availability of means
• Suicidality is not a dichotomized phenomenon.
• Assessment does not determine rationale for intervention.
• Assessment does determines scale and scope of intervention.

JASMINE GRAHAM, PHD. IU SCHOOL OF EDUCATION-IUPUI

Intersectional Considerations

Identity markers:

• Age
• Geography
• Socioeconomic Status
• Race
• Ethnicity
• Sexuality and Orientation
• Presence of Disability
• etc

JASMINE GRAHAM, PHD. IU SCHOOL OF EDUCATION-IUPUI

Intersectional Considerations

Youth's Community

SES

Rural

Urban

JASMINE GRAHAM, PHD. IU SCHOOL OF EDUCATION-IUPUI

Rural and Urban Communities

Each has its own unique strengths and assets Particular risks:

• Lack of access to diverse mental healthcare
• Group thinking re: help-seeking, wellness, and mental health
• Immobility (economically and socially)

The result: limited access to healthy coping and holistic care

JASMINE GRAHAM, PHD. IU SCHOOL OF EDUCATION-IUPUI

Holistic Coping

Holistic Coping is a wellness model that considers psychological, social, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the youth’s identity as well as concrete identity markers previously identified. Holistic practices may include:

• Yoga
• Meditation
• Spirituality
• Social development
• Experiential practices

These are provided in addition to talk therapy, medication management, and

• ther traditional interventions.

JASMINE GRAHAM, PHD. IU SCHOOL OF EDUCATION-IUPUI

Holistic Coping

Competent Helpers and Healers:

• Consider Context
• Create Space

Examples of Creating Space:

• 1. Therapist starts and ends each counseling session with guided meditation.
• 2. Pediatric practice provides yoga classes in-office
• 3. Case Manager starts a wellness book study with youth client

JASMINE GRAHAM, PHD. IU SCHOOL OF EDUCATION-IUPUI

Helper/Healer Relationship

• Relationship is prime.

Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care. – Theodore Roosevelt Causality dilemma:

• Which came first: the chicken or the egg?

Graduate student version:

• Which comes first: the relationship or the intervention?

JASMINE GRAHAM, PHD. IU SCHOOL OF EDUCATION-IUPUI

Systemic Intervention

Family Systems Theory: Individuals cannot be understood in isolation from one another, but rather as a part of their family unit. Homeostasis in the family system: The tendency of relationships to preserve the organizing principles of its existence.

JASMINE GRAHAM, PHD. IU SCHOOL OF EDUCATION-IUPUI

Change in the Family System

• 1st Order Change: Change occurs on the behavioral level only.
• 2nd Order Change: Change occurs in the rules and norms governing

the family structure, internal order, and beliefs.

_____________

• 1st Order Change creates a temporary shift that charts sustainable 2nd Order

Change.

• Both types of change are important.

JASMINE GRAHAM, PHD. IU SCHOOL OF EDUCATION-IUPUI

Interventions Informed by 1st Order Change Interventions Informed by 2nd Order Change Family therapy to provide clinical updates on the Identified Patient. Family therapy to create cohesive relationships that mutually support all members’ wellness. Suicidal behavior replacement Explore belief patterns that contribute to harmful behavior and develop an evolving epistemology that contributes to wellness goals. Remove dangerous items and weapons. Instead of embracing objects that harm, embrace objects that heal (ex. Soft lovies, healing photos, etc). Tracking: Maintain a log of suicidal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Create a record (ex. log, photo album, poetry journal, sketchbook, etc.) of wellness inspirations.

JASMINE GRAHAM, PHD. IU SCHOOL OF EDUCATION-IUPUI

Family Survivors of Suicide

Bereavement is complicated by:

• 1. Traumatic aftermath
• Increased risk for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• 2. Stigma and shame
• 3. Mixed emotions
• 4. Need for reason/closure
• 5. Risk for survivors
• Increased risk for suicidality

JASMINE GRAHAM, PHD. IU SCHOOL OF EDUCATION-IUPUI

Online Resources

Useful Counseling Interventions:

• Individual Counseling
• Family Therapy
• Group Therapy
• Online Support Groups

Online Resources:

American Association of Suicidology www.suicidology.org American Foundation for Suicide Prevention www.afsp.org Alliance of Hope http://www.allianceofhope.org SOLOS - Survivors of Loved Ones to Suicide http://www.solossurvivorsoflovedonestosuicid e.com/online-groups.html

JASMINE GRAHAM, PHD. IU SCHOOL OF EDUCATION-IUPUI

Jasmine Graham, Ph.D.

Clinical Assistant Professor Program Coordinator Interim Faculty Director of Field Experience Counseling and Counselor Education IU School of Education – IUPUI grahamjj@iupui.edu

JASMINE GRAHAM, PHD. IU SCHOOL OF EDUCATION-IUPUI